Mendelssohn Song without word op53 No.3 Agitation

[dora96]

Hi all,

I have recorded Mendelssohn Song without word Op53 No.3 Agitation. Any comments or advise to improve on this piece are very welcomed thank you.

[bench warmer]

In general, very nice playing!

A few observations:

There could be a bit more differentiation in  the RH between the chords that are marked staccato and those that aren't. Maybe a bit  sharper and lighter attack on the staccato chords.

Your "ritard" in measure 47  sounds to me  like you're hesitating to find the chords. You seemed to "ritard with gusto" there. And... the other measures similar to M47 (with the 6 eight notes in the measure) seemed to also have a slower tempo than the rest of the measures.

A little more tempo  to  get it "presto" and you have it.
(I already have you "agitated", so "presto agitato" will be a Snap!)

Listen to your recording again and see if my analysis is valid or if  I mis-interpreted your interpretation.

[dora96]

First of all, thank you so much taking time to listen my recording. I just have a question about the title. My teacher said Agitation is printing mistake, it should be determination. Can someone show  me that should it be different title.

Another thing I just feel the legato and staccato. What is meant? If the composer wanted legato and why he puts staccato within the chord. How should it play really for phrasing legato and staccato. I feel some contradictory.   This piece is very strong and powerful, most of the part is forte and double forte. In the beginning, I really hate it, because every time I practise it , it just gave the headache. There are so many part very similar for memorization, I really confuse. If I don't play by memorization, it is pesto so fast, so hard to turn pages.

Song without words, does it mean the piano sings like song. How should I sing this piece with voice of the piano. It may sound stupid, but this is my third piece Mendelssohn Song without word piece after I have been playing piano for 20 years. I hardly play Mendelssohn music, don't know enough about him and his music. I heard some piano work, but not a great fan of him.

If someone can give me some sort of background, even his music I should be very grateful.

[thierry13]

This sounds like the piece is too hard for you technically. It's far too slow to be "agitated" as it should be, and to get it's color and harmonic vibration. And even at this speed, you struggle to play the arpeggios, it's uneven and the legato is still so-so. On the other hand, I think you know how to make a piano sing, but the way you make it sing in this recording is not all that appropriate for the piece, maybe because you can't play it fast enough. It's definitely a great piece and you should keep working on it  It will be, I am sure, very rewarding!

[ramseytheii]

Mendelssohn didn't give a title to this piece, nor did he give titles to most (if not all) of the Lieder ohne Woerte, but we all call it Agitation nonetheless!

Walter Ramsey

[dora96]

You are Thierry13. The speeding I am playing is slow than the piece requires because my teacher suggested that I should aim for accuracy rather than speed. She said that in the exam, the exam piece should neat and tidy that what examiner is looking for. This piece is my ATCL exam piece. I am glad that you mention that. I am working on it right now. Thank you.

Okey Ramseytheli thank you for that information 

[thierry13]

What level exactly is ATCL? I think at the speed you took it, it should be free of wrong notes and much cleaner than what you posted. You should double efforts if ATCL is past grade 8 or 10 I don't know ...

[dora96]

It is advance diploma. I am still working on it. My teacher asks me I should aim the accuracy not the speed. For me the hardest thing is turning the page. Sometimes, I get very easily slipped. the arpeggio is easy running from me. My tempo is about 80 in the met.